Find innovative ways of filling the stadia

Accra, Jan. 29, GNA - Mr Kwabena Agyei-Agyapong, a politician and ardent sports enthusiast, on Tuesday called on the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the ongoing Confederation of African Nations (CAN) football tournament, "Ghana 2008," to find innovative ways of getting more spectators to fill the stadiums.

He said the images of matches not involving the national soccer team, the Black Stars, played at empty stadiums, was not sending the right signal to the outside world.

Mr Agyei-Agyapong said the earlier the LOC acted to save the situation, the better it would be for the nation.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the Stars' 2 -0 sweet victory over Morocco in Accra on Monday, he pointed out that football was a spectator sports event and the success of any soccer tournament was not just about the quality of play but the involvement of the people.

Mr Agyei-Agyapong said if the cost of tickets for the matches was becoming a barrier, there should be no reason why the LOC should not reduce it to allow every Ghanaian to become part of the frenzy and excitement.

He said: "It is better to have 40,000 soccer fans paying one GH Cedi than 300 paying 15 GH Cedis."

Mr Agyei-Agyapong said the construction of stadiums was a social and not a capital investment, therefore, the cost could not be expected to be recouped through gate proceeds during the competition. He said like it was done in Cote d'Ivoire in 1984, Senegal in 1992 and Tunisia in 1994, the LOC could give free tickets to members of special interest groups such as off-duty policemen, soldiers or even school children to enable them go to the stadiums. Mr Agyei-Agyapong said the people deserved to have a feel of the magnificent infrastructure the Government had built for the prestigious tournament. He said access to the stadiums would enable them to even appreciate the more what the Government had done.